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Reviews

Reviewer:gvtmule
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September 8, 2010 Subject:
The beginning of the end

Wow 20 years... I think the previous reviews pretty much sum up the show. The guys absolutely should have taken a break, chose Vince too hastily and then threw him to the wolves by not postponing shows to at least give him some time to get up to speed. I remember him furiously thumbing through a music book as they played these first shows. We had already bought tickets for the first three shows of this tour before Brent died or I wouldn't have gone. The celebratory mood of the crowd seemed odd to me.

The boys did step it up a notch to compensate, for sure. Long first set and some decent jams. Nothing really stands out except maybe Bird Song. Vince does a great job all things considered. But the importance of Brent was revealed to anyone who didn't already realize it and things went steadily south with a few exceptions. I only went to two more shows after Philly, the last being Deer Creek '92.

I've actually warmed up to Vince over the years, but he was put in an unwinnable situation. The dude was talented. As Donna once said, "As a whole, in general, the Grateful Dead is not benign." I think 3 is generous for this show. Probably above average for the last 10 years of the band and a solid C- compared to the recorded history of the band. The sound quality is really good overall but the keys are too high at the beginning.

Surprisingly solid show, had to go as it was close to home (if 400 miles is close), and my hero was dead and I needed to know how his legacy would be treated.

Vince does an admirable job, one of my favorite Welick only shows, along with the next night(which is strangely not on the archive-please upload, stranger!)

No highlight to point out, to each his own, surely, but i will say there are zero clunkers as the band as a whole continues with the tremendous momentum harnessed in summer. Jer shreds Picasso, and Vince sounds like he rehearsed this one a lot!

If you can sort through all the yammering about Vince and just listen to this show you're in for a real treat.

Let’s look at the merits:

* A 10-song first set, including classic GD songs and featuring a sweet Bird Song, nice Ramble on Rose, a rocking cowboy combo, a great version of Masterpiece and hot US Blues to close.
* Solid pre-drums, with a nice Truckin>Crazy transition and a great PITB -- maybe the best Playin of 1990?
* A tight band, with something to prove the first night out after Brent’s death. Listen to Weir, he’s very good on this night.
* An unvarnished look at Vince, before the pairing with Hornsby. Jerry introduces him to the fans after Bird Song.
* An historic show. Many songs take on powerful meaning in Brent’s absence – Cold Rain, Bird Song, Know u Rider, Truckin, Crazy Fingers, Black Pete(!), Knockin
* Crystal clear and beautifully-mixed SBD recording that has just enough of a matrix feel.

Yes, Vince is a little tentative, but give the guy a break, it's his first show playing for the Grateful Dead, and I think he pulls it off beautifully.

I think that this a great 1st attempt at keeping the Beast rolling, but an average show. Jerry's solo going into Crazy Fingers really is quite lovely. Sedula my dear, Jerry opens Cold Rain and Snow with, "Well I married me a WIFE, she WAS trouble all my life," It very well could have been for Brent. Who knows? I think everyone knew Lisa WAS.... difficult. But please, take it easy. Ashes Rising is entitled to state an opinion without having to be subjected to such nastiness and a viper of a tongue. You're entitled to rebuff, but just learn how to articulate yourself without so much, whatever that is.
The slow, note poignant, soft vocals of Black Peter makes me feel as if Jerry was singing for Brent. It's particularly mournful, which is always endearing. Miss you Brent. Love ya, buddy.

I got word that Brent had passed in what the submarine force calls "family-grams". My wife had used up more than half of her alotted 40 words per month to send to me, to let me know that the phreak at the keys that I had grown to love and admire, had fallen victim to the position of keyboardist for the Grateful Dead. I remember still, how underwater, somewhere in the Atlantic ocean, in a warship filled with warriors and destructive devices, I found a place to sit, be alone, put on my walkman headphones, and listen to "Without a Net". I couldn't hold back the tears as I listened to this lovable kid with the intense eyes, crooned out the back-ups to Half-Step...
Listening to this show again, as I pulled it out of one of the cases, I could not be overcome with the emptiness left in the wake of his death during Crazy Fingers. His mark was made upon everything that he touched, every tickle of the keys, every smile that he shared with Jerry on stage, and every harmony that he brought back to the band, so sorely missed for so very long.

My pledge to any of you, as fellow walkers of this jinglebell rainbow we call the long strange trip, is to download this show. Burn it onto disc. Set a copy away for a special moment. find a day, when there is nothing to do but enjoy the day, and dust this one off. Raise your heart, and a smile, and remember the day when the music died a little in all of us.

If I squint a little, i can see him smiling though that wild flowing hair of his, eyes blaring through it all, a smile pursed on his lips through the beard, and beautiful musical energy flowing though his young soul...

I miss ya kid. Love always, CMM

Reviewer:Bus70
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September 5, 2008 Subject:
first show without Brent...

I remember doing my best to enjoy this show, as I alwyays did with the GD, but for the first time ever, I had some serious issues. Obviously, emotions were high after Brent's death. Nothing against Vince personally - I know he was trying, but it was really difficult to get used to his sound. One of the three 10-song first sets I saw in 1990, which was a bonus, but still just not anywhere near equal to those w/ Brent.

and though those below who say this was a great Bird Song (for the 90s) are right to a certain extent - look no further than the one I also saw at this same venue a year later (9/6/91) for a version with a truly meltdown closing jam....hey now, I always hesitate to say anything negative, so i'll just state that the post-Brent Dead shows got a lot better once Bruce joined the group. Vince did his best on his own, but it just didn't cut it after Brent. That's my humble opinion.

As sad as seeing Brent go, and not Knowing much about Vince prior to him joining the Dead, I enjoyed this show a lot. The song selection alone w/ Crazy Fingers, Peter, and Playin' (for Vince's benefit of course) was a class act by the boys. I think Vince did a great job learning the 100+ plus songs in 3 months...I am a Brent Head...he smoked those keys and the voice....still get chills thinking about his voice.Addicts or not they both will be sorely missed!

Good show, perfect Cold Rain. We traveled from the east with the glue. We got lost a lot due to the nugs, and drove thru a snowstorm. Shakedown was hudling for warmth in 8" of new snow, and then Jerry arrived with the only opener worth playing. Thanks Zapp for the Glue, the best kind there is,

I really tried to give Vince a shot...I figured it would take him a bit to settle in, but he never did. It's too bad the guy had to kill himself. We all knew that was the hotseat after all. I agree, Jerry never clicked with Vince. The best shows post Brent were Bruce shows...we never got the harmonies back though. I had heard a couple of months after Brent died that Bill Payne from Little Feat was going to take that spot. Anyone else remember that rumor? It's too bad it didn't shake out like that. That would have been awesome! This show sounds like an audition for a new keyboard player. 2 stars 'in Vinnie's eyes' for this show.

Reviewer:RastaMike
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September 29, 2006 Subject:
Those were the day's

Hey Now, I was at this show,camping with 5000 other fans 1/2 mile from the hall. This was the beginning of a three day run of shows. Sold alot of GD books that weekend. The sudden death of Brent caught us all off guard,we had no time to grieve, folks had come from far and wide for three nights of our favorite band The Grateful Dead. The loss of yet another keyboard player,and the band still "trucking on" inspired all of us.
Listening to this show brings back all those memories for me. I think it's a damn good recording with fine selection of the songs of that era. "I don't know what we were going for"but we all,the band and the fans were were gonna make it. Gratefull Deadness was in the air,a cosmic life force reflecting the spirit and power of this "long,strang trip" we were all on.
We all might done things differently in hindsight, but the band did what they did best and that was to play the best they could on this night.

Lots of heads freaking out around this time period. But, in retrospect, another fine 1990 show. The reality, the band was still at a high point of their career...right through the rest of 1990, with or without Brent. As for Vinnie, he is mixed in nicely. The next night(9/8) is one of the best of Fall 1990.

Reviewer:Dead_Phish24
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October 12, 2005 Subject:
Had to See What leaf was gonna turn

Yeah, The Bird Song was nice, ChinaCat>Rider, always a good starter. I was at Brents Last show at tinley, so I had to see who and what Vince was. Not bad, he improved as time went on. Bryan and I decided to make this run to Ohio at the last minute. Long haul from Chicago, but we made it. Gooddrums/space...Vince was ok,..weird without Brent, and as i think now, the blotter didn't work ........so , not bad for that flaw...Peace .........John

Reviewer:KindRainbowBrother
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August 25, 2005 Subject:
I'm sorry but this is the beginning of the end

They rushed into picking a replacement for Brent. Vince didn't even listen to the dead prior to his tryout. Uggh. He sounds so tentative and uncomfortable on Cold Rain.

Ten song first set, pretty unusual for anywhere after 1989. Bird Song is very good.

I agree wholeheartedley with Reece they came up with a replacement way too quickly. Bruce helped, but still both he and Vinnie never quite added the soul that Mydland had. Then again, really nobody could have really filled those shoes again.

I decided to look up the first show they played after Brents passing. I looked at the set list and thought , well thats about a 4 star line up right there (im a sucker for some of those Jerry ballads like Crazy and Peter) plus a reckognized Knockin' encore. I was looking for that , or he's gone. Naturally i found one of the two. After reading a few reviews i thought i would check out a few songs.
The master piece with the coco-cola bridge is excellent indeed, and it really seems to drive the song fourth into the final verses. Of course, the show case of the first set is the Bird Song. Its rather chunky , and in sync with what they were doing at the time before Vince joined . Its very enjoyable , and instantly one of my most likeable bird songs. Jerry starts laying into the notes before subtley backing off into a light , lifting lead back into the song. Its wonderful and i recommend a listen .

This is the one Masterpiece where they do "the land of Coca-Cola" bridge that I've heard and it added more than I would expect.

This was a wierd show. In some ways it was alright - I had always wanted to hear US Blues as a first set closer (anywhere but encore). The first set is pretty good and the rest of the band steps up, aware that they're a man down, so to speak.

On the otherside, I always thought they came up with a replacement for Brent a tad fast. I know they had a Europe tour in the works, but man, Brent had been with them for some time. I hate to be harsh, but it was a darn good thing Hornsby was available for the next year-and-a-half or so.

The Brent Void Shows. We all did not know what to expect, but everyone picked up the slack for Vince. Vince did well for his first night, but a nice set list and tight jamming from the string section brought this show home. Bruce Hornsby was welcome after seeing the opening shows of this tour. Nice board and worth the download.

I was sceptical on downloading this show as I never thought Welnick properly got the hang of the Dead's music ever let alone on his first show. But I was pleasantly suprised that he is playing well on this night, and so is the rest of the band for what must have been an awkward show to play. It's actually quite interesting to listen to Vince as he is trying hard come up with interesting licks throughout the show, which is something I've never really heard him do before. I guess he had a lot of people to convince :-).

The band comes through after the loss of Brent and offers this fine show to the faithful. We were all curious how would they play after the loss of Brent. I thought the band was peaking in late 1989 into 1990. After this show, I was very impressed at how well the band played and the strong song selection. Big jamming tunes like Birdsong and Playin, said to me that this band was on a mission to take the music to higher level, nothing could stop them.
Vince's synth and vocals was a big departure from Brent, but he fit very well for his first show. For all that, I give them 5 stars. Check it out!!